The scale of a show like next week's Electronic Entertainment Expo is such that it's impossible to see absolutely everything on display. Even if you eliminate the obvious licensed shovelware and copycat mobile games and the like, there's still way more being shown than any one person can effectively take in during a two-and-a-half day span. With that in mind, I've already begun narrowing down the list of items I'm most excited to see and hear more about at this year's show. Here are some quick thoughts on just a few of the things I'm most looking forward to seeing next week.

Wii U

I was probably more impressed than most with my first experience with the Wii U at last year's E3. The short demos on hand did a good job of showing off the potential of the unorthodox tablet-controller-and-TV combo, from a game of hide-and-seek where the tablet provided a crucial overhead view to a rhythm game where the screen acted as an augmented reality shield of sorts. I was especially impressed with a Metroid-themed demo that combined the tablet controller's dual analog sticks and its tilt-sensitive viewpoint to create a seamless, intuitive 3D flight interface.

But none of the demos I saw last year came across as the kind of killer app that Nintendo is going to need to really sell gamers and the general public on the Wii U's odd concept. As elegant and inventive as the demos were, none of them had the head-smacking simplicity and instant appeal of a game like Wii Sports, or the essential mixture of old and new provided by Super Mario Galaxy. With the system expected to launch before the end of the year, I'll be looking out for evidence of that killer app that can really sell the Wii U to a skeptical public.

The Last of Us

The Last of Us trailer

With the Uncharted series, the developers at Naughty Dog have proven that they can handle the wise-cracking, charismatic, action-film hero just fine. The Last of Us seems poised to take that cinematic experience and refocus it on a story with a bit more pathos and real emotion. That might sound ambitious for the latest game to set itself in a post-apocalyptic world infested with zombies, but by focusing on how survivors Joel and Ellie cling together amidst threats both undead and very much alive, the game seems poised to be the thinking man's survival horror story.

A video preview of the game that I saw at a pre-E3 event did a good job of setting up an ever-present feeling of tension in an exquisite, ruined world, weaving well-written antagonists in with inventive, high-octane fights that had a lot more impact than the standard third-person shooting gallery. I can't wait to get my hands on a controller at E3 to see if those feelings hold up when the game is actually playable.

Halo 4

You'd think at this point we'd know what to expect from yet another game in the well-established Halo franchise, but with the next game in the series being the first produced without the support of series creator Bungie, I'm hoping the new developers at 343 Industries will shake up the formula with some new ideas. While it's very possible that the game will be more of the same, the series' prominence has me excited about its ability to introduce some new concepts to the increasingly tired first-person shooter genre.

Quantum Conundrum

Quantum Conundrum trailer

I've seen this game a few times at preview events of various sorts, but it really seems to be coming together now that E3 is approaching. As the latest brainchild of Portal creator Kim Swift, it's not that surprising that Quantum Conundrum mixes puzzles and platforming with a somewhat twisted plot pushed along by an unseen, unreliable narrator. The key gameplay conceit is the ability to shift the environment into different dimensions that play with the force of gravity or the speed of time, leading to some truly inventive puzzles that require a lot of outside-the-box thinking to solve.

Dishonored

Dishonored trailer

If you can watch the above trailer for Dishonored without getting excited about the game's strong sense of character and place, I'm not sure we can be friends anymore. I can't actually say much more about precisely why I'm excited for this stealth-heavy first-person shooter just yet, but look for full impressions next week.

Epic Mickey 2

Epic Mickey 2 trailer

The problems with camera controls and gameplay design in the first Epic Mickey were enough to overwhelm what I thought were some pretty clever artistic decisions in reimagining a new world for some of Disney's most famous characters. The sequel is being described as a full "video game musical," which brings to mind personal favorite Space Channel 5 in a very good way. Add in drop-in co-op play, characters with fully spoken dialogue, and HD graphics on the Xbox 360 and PS3, and it looks like this sequel might actually be a game that's worthy of its setting and characters.

Surprises!

There are a surprising number of slots on my E3 schedule this year that simply read "unannounced game from [publisher X]." While some of these games will no doubt be duds, I'm hoping a few of them will be able to really show me something different from the dozens of "me too" shooters and action games.

What are you looking forward to (or even dreading) from E3? Let us know in the comments.

48 Reader Comments

I'm hoping for something on the level of the Sega Saturn/Sony Playstation unveilings of E3 1995. With Xbox360 being seven years old it's time for them to announce an impending platform refresh. Sony needs to respond with their own.

To be honest, my backlog is getting so long that I'm paying much less attention to upcoming releases than I used to, apart from checking Co-Optimus to keep an eye on potential co-op hits. The single-player game I'm most interested in that is still possibly coming out in 2012 is The Last Guardian.

Never got the whole zombie thing. They are one the most uninteresting type of monster, IMHO. The only zombie work I ever liked was the book World War Z, and that was because it focused on the human characters and the zombies were just a force in the background. Maybe The Last Of Us can do something similar.

Also want Borderlands 2, but we actually have a release date and plenty of footage already.

Keep an eye out for Mechwarrior Online for us!! That game looks to be amazing.

I was just getting ready to post "Where's the MWO love?" when I saw this. I look at the games listed and see dying platform, Uncharted meets The Walking Dead, sequel, promising game to tide us over until next Portal game, skeptical game will be anything like the trailer, and finished of with another sequel.

These are things to be excited over compared to a franchise that last saw a game release on the PC over 10 years ago and will have THREE games released in Mechwarrior Online, Mechwarrior Tactics, and Mechwarrior Tactical Command? Sometimes I really wonder if folks get too excited over the newer stuff just because it's new. Heck, not even the upcoming release of Borderlands 2 (would have added Aliens: Colonial Marines but it's console-only) can really compare to seeing a beloved franchise AND the mecha genre seeing a comeback.

I'm hoping for something on the level of the Sega Saturn/Sony Playstation unveilings of E3 1995. With Xbox360 being seven years old it's time for them to announce an impending platform refresh. Sony needs to respond with their own.

Why? Both Sony and Microsoft are doing pretty well right now, they're making healthy profits on their respective home consoles and sales are still strong. Releasing new consoles now will only plunge them too early into the massive losses they both experience whenever they release a new console.

It's only Nintendo who really needs a new home console, as the Wii has definitely run out of steam.

I'm interested in the Wii U's online ability. It needs to have real online multiplayer, non code based friends, and functioning voice chat. Otherwise, no matter how cool anything else that it does is, I'll consider it hobbled.

I'm interested in the Wii U's online ability. It needs to have real online multiplayer, non code based friends, and functioning voice chat. Otherwise, no matter how cool anything else that it does is, I'll consider it hobbled.

I don't think the wii U will have a superb online experience, hell, I don't even think it's going to be subpar, the strong side of nintendo is the splitscreen multiplayer, and I really prefer those to "1 player per console" multiplayer (as the eldest of 3 brothers, I know we need to share that thing, A LOT) and I frankly prefer having some beers with my homies while playing Super smash bros brawl (or melee, mind you), than spouting drunk phrases over a microphone

You just made my day. I hadn't heard that a sequel was coming out, but now I'm annoyed that I have to wait until 2013.

Generals is one of my favorite games of all time, but I haven't been able to get it to work on my current system. Hopefully Generals 2 will make that issue moot. ---

I'm not sure what I think about Last of Us. I loved Uncharted, but I'm not a huge fan of suspense/horror.

Yeah... Generals 2 is shaping up to look freaking EPIC. Frostbite 2 engine, made by BioWare (a new sub-developer named "BioWare Victory", specifically)... and I heard a rumor of either a greatly increased or even removed population cap, since with computers' capabilities these days, population caps in an RTS is a relic of bygone days where they had to limit the number of moving objects on the screen.

You just made my day. I hadn't heard that a sequel was coming out, but now I'm annoyed that I have to wait until 2013.

Generals is one of my favorite games of all time, but I haven't been able to get it to work on my current system. Hopefully Generals 2 will make that issue moot. ---

I'm not sure what I think about Last of Us. I loved Uncharted, but I'm not a huge fan of suspense/horror.

Yeah... Generals 2 is shaping up to look freaking EPIC. Frostbite 2 engine, made by BioWare (a new sub-developer named "BioWare Victory", specifically)... and I heard a rumor of either a greatly increased or even removed population cap, since with computers' capabilities these days, population caps in an RTS is a relic of bygone days where they had to limit the number of moving objects on the screen.

woahwoahwoahwoahwoah, hang on. Frostbite 2 as in "Battlefield 3's engine"? or am I mistaken here? anyways it shapes up to be an awesome game; with this and Company of heroes 2 my 2013 in the RTS aspect is totally covered

I'm hoping for something on the level of the Sega Saturn/Sony Playstation unveilings of E3 1995. With Xbox360 being seven years old it's time for them to announce an impending platform refresh. Sony needs to respond with their own.

Why? Both Sony and Microsoft are doing pretty well right now, they're making healthy profits on their respective home consoles and sales are still strong. Releasing new consoles now will only plunge them too early into the massive losses they both experience whenever they release a new console.

It's only Nintendo who really needs a new home console, as the Wii has definitely run out of steam.

Just what I'd personally like to see. The 360 and ps3 may be profit centers for MS and Sony respectively, but to me they're anchors making sure new PC games won't be significantly better than the lowest commonalities of what those two currently handle due to cross-platform concerns.

Yeah, obviously I don't expect that sort of surprise unveiling like what Sega did with the Saturn, I'd just like to see it.

You just made my day. I hadn't heard that a sequel was coming out, but now I'm annoyed that I have to wait until 2013.

Generals is one of my favorite games of all time, but I haven't been able to get it to work on my current system. Hopefully Generals 2 will make that issue moot. ---

I'm not sure what I think about Last of Us. I loved Uncharted, but I'm not a huge fan of suspense/horror.

Yeah... Generals 2 is shaping up to look freaking EPIC. Frostbite 2 engine, made by BioWare (a new sub-developer named "BioWare Victory", specifically)... and I heard a rumor of either a greatly increased or even removed population cap, since with computers' capabilities these days, population caps in an RTS is a relic of bygone days where they had to limit the number of moving objects on the screen.

Not sure how i feel about no population cap. i like the idea on the initial impulse, but i start thinking of some of the consequences...

The cap keeps someone who's really good at resource management from getting too far ahead: otherwise, If the other guy is enough better than you at it, you will lose, you don't have a chance. this could become boring for both sides, i.e. not being able to find anybody you can't steamroll, or not being able to find anybody who won't steamroll you.

It could also cause game length to get out of control. There's a reason why we always used to play Homeworld: Cataclysm as the ender for our LAN parties: after 4 - 6 hours on one match, we were all ready to be done for the night.

You just made my day. I hadn't heard that a sequel was coming out, but now I'm annoyed that I have to wait until 2013.

Generals is one of my favorite games of all time, but I haven't been able to get it to work on my current system. Hopefully Generals 2 will make that issue moot. ---

I'm not sure what I think about Last of Us. I loved Uncharted, but I'm not a huge fan of suspense/horror.

Yeah... Generals 2 is shaping up to look freaking EPIC. Frostbite 2 engine, made by BioWare (a new sub-developer named "BioWare Victory", specifically)... and I heard a rumor of either a greatly increased or even removed population cap, since with computers' capabilities these days, population caps in an RTS is a relic of bygone days where they had to limit the number of moving objects on the screen.

woahwoahwoahwoahwoah, hang on. Frostbite 2 as in "Battlefield 3's engine"? or am I mistaken here? anyways it shapes up to be an awesome game; with this and Company of heroes 2 my 2013 in the RTS aspect is totally covered

That would make sense since all of those studios are subsidiaries of EA.

You just made my day. I hadn't heard that a sequel was coming out, but now I'm annoyed that I have to wait until 2013.

Generals is one of my favorite games of all time, but I haven't been able to get it to work on my current system. Hopefully Generals 2 will make that issue moot. ---

I'm not sure what I think about Last of Us. I loved Uncharted, but I'm not a huge fan of suspense/horror.

Yeah... Generals 2 is shaping up to look freaking EPIC. Frostbite 2 engine, made by BioWare (a new sub-developer named "BioWare Victory", specifically)... and I heard a rumor of either a greatly increased or even removed population cap, since with computers' capabilities these days, population caps in an RTS is a relic of bygone days where they had to limit the number of moving objects on the screen.

woahwoahwoahwoahwoah, hang on. Frostbite 2 as in "Battlefield 3's engine"? or am I mistaken here? anyways it shapes up to be an awesome game; with this and Company of heroes 2 my 2013 in the RTS aspect is totally covered

Wait, CoH is getting a sequel too? I really do need to get out from under this rock...

I think we're going to see new Sony and Microsoft consoles in the 2013 holiday season. Sony and Microsoft might tease these consoles are in development, but I doubt you'll see anything on them.

I also suspect that Half Life 3 will be a simultaneous console/PC release with the next generation at the end of 2013. They'll push PC/console Steam integration further. If they released Half Life 3 in 2012, it couldn't get a console release and push boundaries, but it could at the end of 2013.

w00t w00t! One of my favorite times of year, right up there with Black Friday. And not even cause its a meaningful videogame spectacle, but it is certainly a spectacle... executives are so silly when they're trying to act relevant. I would just as soon there be no E3 and they just spend the time/money on making their games and their companies better.Anyway, here's hoping for:Mirror's Edge 2Kingdom Hearts maybe?Turok? Remake of Unreal? Sony and Microsoft merge? (hey I can dream)I honestly don't even care about Episode 3 one way or the other anymore.

You just made my day. I hadn't heard that a sequel was coming out, but now I'm annoyed that I have to wait until 2013.

Generals is one of my favorite games of all time, but I haven't been able to get it to work on my current system. Hopefully Generals 2 will make that issue moot. ---

I'm not sure what I think about Last of Us. I loved Uncharted, but I'm not a huge fan of suspense/horror.

Yeah... Generals 2 is shaping up to look freaking EPIC. Frostbite 2 engine, made by BioWare (a new sub-developer named "BioWare Victory", specifically)... and I heard a rumor of either a greatly increased or even removed population cap, since with computers' capabilities these days, population caps in an RTS is a relic of bygone days where they had to limit the number of moving objects on the screen.

woahwoahwoahwoahwoah, hang on. Frostbite 2 as in "Battlefield 3's engine"? or am I mistaken here? anyways it shapes up to be an awesome game; with this and Company of heroes 2 my 2013 in the RTS aspect is totally covered

Wait, CoH is getting a sequel too? I really do need to get out from under this rock...

Expect to hear some new epic theme music, the Activision logo, long pause, then the Bungie logo, cheers from some sectors of the audience... music swells... fade in rotating galaxy, zoom into star cluster white-out, music reaches deafening climax, then fade up Destiny logo over an echoing ambience. Hold for a mo. Then shock zoom into the depths of the black logo to reveal the launch date. A date so far in the future it seems reasonable to think that we will all be living in a real Space Opera Galactic Civilisation by then...

Reason?

Well, with the West / Zampella / EA lawsuit settlement, Activision need to shore up its weakened stock price by trumpeting it future cash cow as early as humanly possible. I sincerely hope Bungie haven't been enticed by a not-worth-the-paper-it's-printed-on unbelievably super-sweet Activision contracts. Just don't be getting any lifts on rich guys private jets for the next decade... eh?

While I like the trailers, and I value a strong story in most games more than anything, I really hate trailers that don't show you any definite gameplay. If all I get to see is an awesome cut-scene, go make a movie, not a game where at least I get to pretend I'm controlling the unveiling of the fixed story. That goes for Dishonored and The Last of Us: cool presentation, but we've already seen an amazing trailer turn into a bad zombie game last year. Game play can actually be weaker than the story if the latter appeals enough, but it shouldn't be shunted into "our game isn't ready enough so we'll build up hype with this cut-scene." That's the cynical, 20 years of golden previews turned into horse manure side, naturally.

Kyle Orland / Kyle is the Senior Gaming Editor at Ars Technica, specializing in video game hardware and software. He has journalism and computer science degrees from University of Maryland. He is based in Pittsburgh, PA.